US-Iran standoff: Trump showcases F-22s, B-2 bombers after fresh Gulf strikes

Washington: US President Donald Trump on Monday (IST) shared three images of military aircraft following fresh strikes on Iran, in a bid to showcase American military capabilities.

The three images, published by the President via his Truth Social platform, included two photographs featuring F-22A Raptor fighter jets. One of these pictures depicted a Boeing VC-25B "Bridge" aircraft—a modified Boeing 747-8 presented to the US as a gift by the Qatari ruling family—being escorted by a four-ship formation of F-22 Raptors. The third photograph showed a B-2A Spirit alongside a B-1B Lancer strategic bomber.

The images were made public concurrently with a fresh round of US military strikes launched against Iran on Sunday. US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the operation was intended to further weaken Tehran’s capacity to target civilian mariners and commercial vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz.

Escalation in the Strait

CENTCOM launched a major wave of offensive precision strikes across multiple locations in Iran on Sunday, striking dozens of military installations to impair Tehran's capability to disrupt international maritime trade.

The operations specifically targeted Iranian military air-defence systems, coastal radar infrastructure, missile and drone launch sites, and small tactical vessels. In a notable escalation of tactical deployment, American forces utilised a multi-domain assault force comprising fighter aircraft, naval combatants, and, for the first time, both one-way attack aerial drones and one-way attack sea drones.

According to an official statement released by CENTCOM, the strikes were executed to protect the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global maritime bottleneck.

"The Strait of Hormuz is a vital maritime corridor for global trade. Iran does not control it," the command stated.

The military action follows a sustained period of friction in the region, characterised by what Washington describes as Iran's unwarranted aggression, illegal harassment, and arbitrary threats against international commercial shipping.

In a post on X, CENTCOM confirmed the strikes were carried out at the direction of the Commander-in-Chief to hold Iranian forces accountable.

"At 5 p.m. ET today, U.S. Central Command forces began launching more strikes against Iran to continue degrading their ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships freely transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The Commander in Chief has directed the strikes to hold Iranian forces accountable," CENTCOM said.

CENTCOM reaffirmed its long-term commitment to the region, stating that US forces remain heavily postured and prepared to take both defensive and offensive actions to guarantee that the freedom of navigation is maintained for all commercial vessels passing through the strategic waterway.

Tehran Warns of Retaliation

In a statement issued by Iran's Foreign Ministry, Tehran warned that any nation allowing its territory or facilities to be utilised for attacks against Iran could become a legitimate target for Iranian defensive strikes, whilst urging the United Nations to hold the United States accountable for what it described as acts of aggression.

"The territory or facilities of any country used to launch military attacks against Iran may be regarded as the origin of aggression and treated as a legitimate target for defensive operations by the Iranian armed forces," the ministry said.

The Foreign Ministry also rejected remarks attributed to the US President regarding the outcome of recent talks held in Muscat, describing them as "a complete lie."

According to Iran, the discussions in Muscat were focused strictly on arrangements related to the management of the Strait of Hormuz and the security of international shipping routes, rather than how they were characterised by the US President.

The ministry further criticised the United Nations Secretariat for what it described as an inadequate response to the alleged US military actions, urging the UN Secretary-General and the UN Security Council to take immediate action. It called on the UN chief and the Security Council to hold those responsible for the attacks accountable, reiterating that the strikes violated international law and the UN Charter.

ANI